Obama’s motorcade took him directly from a golf course at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland to Washington’s Verizon Center to watch Syracuse and Marquette play for a berth in the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament. He left shortly before the end of the game, which Syracuse won 55-39.

With less than 11 minutes remaining in the first half of the East Regional final, Obama appeared on the Jumbotron suspended above the Verizon Center court. He sat with Reggie Love, his former personal aide at the White House and a member of the Duke team that won the NCAA championship in 2001. At least one other friend, Marty Nesbitt, also sat with the president. Also joining Obama was NCAA President Mark Emmert.

The audience responded with loud applause when Obama was shown on the huge screen, and he smiled and waved.

Just about everyone’s NCAA tournament bracket took an L this year, including Obama’s. He had Indiana University winning the tournament but they lost to Syracuse a couple of days ago.